Apparatus for making cup-leathers.



R. S. COLLINS & F. W. TROSTLE.`

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CUP LEATHERS. APPLICATION FILED Nov. l, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

infn if 52 J/zacrr:

Patented May 23,1916.

R. S. COLLI-NS & F.AW. TROSTLE.

.APPARATUS FOR MAKING CUP LETHERS. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 1.1915.

` Patented' May 23, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. S. COLLINS & F. W..TROST|.KE.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CUP LEATHERS.

Patented May 23,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I L/ZO/Z (IP-c APPLICATION FILED NOV. I, 1915- H. s. coLuN's F. w. msm-1.

`APPARATUS FOR MAKING CUP LEATHEHS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I, |9151 4 Patented May 23, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

En .sratrEs PATENT oEEIoE.

RICHARD S. COLLINS AND FRANK W. TROSTL-E, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, IASSIG-NO-RS OF ONE-HALF TO ROCKFORD LEATHER WASHER COMPANY .AND ONEFI-IALF TO WARD PUMP COMPANY,i BOTH OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, CORPORATIONS I0]!" ILLINOIS.

Be it known that we, RICHARD S. CoLLINs and FRANK lV. TRosTLr., citizens of the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county of lVinnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Making Cup- Leathers, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of cup shaped articles known as cup leathers which are used as piston packing in pumps.

Heretofore, so far as we are aware, cup leathers have been manufactured according to either a hand or machine method. The hand method consists in pressing a circular leather blank which has been soaked in Wat-er orotherwise suitably tempered, into an apertured block or die by means of a center block so as to form the blank into cup shape, and then placing the block containing the cup in an oven. The heat of the oven fixes the leather in the desired cup shape, but the method is slow and unsatisfactory. Moreover, the cup leather after being removed from the blocks must be trimmed and trued ina lathe; furthermore, the cup leathers are not as durable as they might be, since the heat of the oven has a deteriorating effect on the leather. In order to lessen the cost of manufacture, cup leathers were next formed by means of punch presses. By this method a leather blank could be quickly pressed into cup shape; but the resultant article was not only defective in many respects, but the loss occasioned by this method of manufacture was considerable, ranging from 15 to 3() per cent. Therapid formation of the cup leathers and the heavy pressure applied often injured, distorted, and stretched the fibers of leather and sometimes tore the same. It will beapparent .that if a leather blank were of greater or less thickness than that suited for the dies, an imper- `fect cup leather would be formed. resultmg 1n waste. leathers had also to be trimmed and trued in a lathe.

The primary object of our invention is to provide an improved apparatus for making cup leathers whereby to obviate the undesirable features inherent in the above mentioned' cup -leather making devices.

Specification of Letters Patent.

These machine-formed cup APPARATUS FOR MAKING CUPLEATI-IERSL Patented May 2.3, 1916.

Application led November 1, 1915. Serial No. 59,136.

Another object is to provide an improved means for manufacturing cup leathersby which these articles may be quickly formed without waste, thus lesseningthe cost of manufacture, and enabling a superior article to be produced, one in which the fibers of the leather have not been injured, which possesses desirable wearing qualities, and which is perfectly true and a finished article.

Our invention, furthermore, contemplates the provision of a machine for automatically forming 'cup leathers so that the different steps involved in the manufacture are effected at the proper times and with such precision and uniformity as to produce a product of high grade and. superior quality.

These objects and other advantages lthat will appear as the invention becomes better understood, we have accomplished by provision of a machine, chiefly characterized by the following described functions and principle of operation. A leather blank is spun into cup shape' in a peculiar manner,

that is, a Vblank while being rotated is pressed into the desired cup shape bysuitable forming members. By this method of forming a cup, the fibers are kept in motion while being formed and pressed into the cup shape and the operation is such that it does not strain or otherwise injure the fibers. After a blank has been formed into -cup vshape and while still held by the forming members and rotated thereby, the edge of the raised flange or circular wall of the cup is trimmed at any\desired bevel. The cup is then pressed farther into one of the forming members so as to smooth the trimmed edge and remove any possiblev roughness. Simultaneously with this ,operation the raised portion or wall of the cup is subjected to a certain amount of frctionalv resistance so as to heat the leather and thereby set or fix the fibers inthe cu-p shape. The above operations, terminating in the dischargeof the cup from the forming means, are performed automatically in proper sequence by our improved machine.

Our invention, its mode and prlnciple 'of operation and the advantages flowing there-A from, will be better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying v drawings, whereinthe ioo

Figure'l is a side elevation of'our irnproved cup-forming machine showlng'it m normal', operative position; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a plan seetional view through'the machine taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the hne 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the cup-receiving table, portions of the table being broken away to show the brake device; Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the table taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, the trimming device being shown in elevation and the movable parts of the table being shown in lowered position; Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through the table taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5 and showing a blank in the process of being labove the table and formed; Fig.y 8 is a side elevation of the trimming device showing the side opposite that shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the trimming device taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8; Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views of the cams employed for operating different mechanisms of the machine; and Fig. 13 is a perspective View of a cup leather such as is formed by the machine. n

Referring to the drawings, it will be observed that an upright'standard designated in general by reference character 14 serves as a suitable support' to which various operating parts and devices of the machinev are attached. A vertical shaft or support 15 disposed opposite the face of the standard in vertically spaced bearing brackets 16 and 17 bolted to the standard, supports at its upper'end a table provided with cup-forming means. The shaft 15 is adapted to be reciprocated vertically in its bearings whereby to move thesaid cup-forming means contained in the table into and out of cop eration with other forming means disposed supported from the standard, all of which will be more particularly described hereinafter.

Referring nowto Figs. 1 and 5 to 7 inclusive, it will be observed that the table designatedfin general by reference character 18 comprises a circular body formed with a concentric bore 19 therethrough, and a base plate 21 boltedlto table body, closing the lower end of the bore and provided with-a depending flange 22 fitting over the top end of the shaft l5 and secured xedly thereto by suitable means, such for instance, as a set screw 23.

The shaft 15 is held against rotation by means of a spline. 24 (Fig. 1).' Two vertically spaced .ball race members 25 and 26 fitted securely in the upper portion of the bore 19, constitute .the fixed elements of a set of ball bearings on which the tubular member 27 is journaled. This member 27 is 'i provided at its upper end with an annular braces the rotary member 27 and the underside of the groove 52 in the shaft.

ange 28 which with the member 25, completes the upper ball race and is exteriorly threaded on its lower end to receive the adjusting and locking nuts 29 and 31 respectively, which complete the lower ball race. Fitting tightly within the member 27 so as to rotate therewith is a tubular bushing 32 which constitutes one of the members or dies employed in shaping or forming a cup leather, the diameter of the bore 33 determining `the outer diameter of the cup. It will be noted that the cylindrical wall at the entrance of the bore 33 is beveled or flared as at 34 for a purpose to be noted hereinafter. Fitting slidably and rotatably within the bore 33 and extending substantially the entire length thereof is a member 35 formed at its lower end with a socket 36 for the reception `of a coiled spring 37 which rests upon the baseplate 21 and constantly urges the member 35 upwardly to a position limited by abutment of the lateral annular fiange 38 formed on the lower end of the said member against the lower end of the rotary member 27. A circular seat member or plate 39 of slightly less diameter than the bore 33 is provided with a depending spindle 41 journaled in a bore inthe member 35 and stepped at its lower end on a steel ball 40 in the manner shown, and isof such thickness that its top face is substantially ush with the face of the table when the springpressed member 35 is in normal or lowered position. A split brake band 42 interposed between the ball race members 25 and 26 emis adapted to be tightened thereon to retard and hold the said member against rotation.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be noted that the ends of the band 42 are provided with lateral lugs 43 and 44, which project into a recess 45 from the bore 19. The lug 4 3 abats/'against an adjustable stop in the form of a screw 46 threaded through the wall of the table body member so as t0 be adjustable from the outer side thereof, and the lug 44 is engaged by one face of a square cam member 47 fixed to the end of a rock shaft 48 journaled in bearing 49 in the body of the table so that upon rocking the shaft 48 in either direction,y the band 42 will be tightened on the bushing 27, as will be apparent. The rock shaft 48 is held against axial displacement by a screwy 51 (Fig. 7) provided with a reduced end engaging an annular Means to be described hereinafter are provided for rocking the shaft 48 at desired intervals for arrest.

brake 42; that `the spring-pressed member 18e 35 will remain stationary during the rota tion of said members by reason of its frictional engagement with the spring 37 that the seat member 39 may rotate on the springpressed member independently of the members 27-32; and that the seat member and spring-pressed member may be moved together axially of the bore 33 uponl downward pressure being applied on the face of said seat member greater vthan the tension of the spring.

The above mechanismj constitutes as a whole the bottom or female member of a die and is adapted to receive a leather blank across the top thereof and to function in cooperation with a forming head or male die member pressed downwardly onto the blank and into the bore 33 in forming the blank into cup shape.,

The upper or male die member in the form of a cylindrical head 'designated in general by reference character 53 is disposed co-axially above the table 18 and'is fixedly secured in the lower end of a spindle 54 vwhich is journaled in bearings 55 carried by aforward projection of the standard 14. The spindle 54, adapted to be rotated by means of a pulley 56, is held against axial movement by said pulley and collars 57. The head 53, detachably secured to the spindle in any suitablemanner, is formed with a fiat lower end or face provided with a short, pointed, centering stud 58 and the head proper is of less diameter than that of the bore 33 so that the head may be projected into said bore with an allowance just sufficient to slightly compress a leather blank interposed between the periphery of the head and the cylindrical wall of the bore.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be noted that the periphery of the head is provided above its end face with an annual insert 59 of some soft metal alloy for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

A trimming device mounted on the table 18 includes a knife or cutter adapted to be projected into the bore 33 for trimming or beveling the edge of the raised iange or side wall of a cup leather -contained within said bore. The trimming means comprises a cutter carriage 61 slidably mounted in dovetailed ways formed in a guide 62, which is formed integral with a standard 63 adjustably mounted on a base 64 bolted ixedly to the back ofthe table 18. The standard 63 is adjustable about the axis of a rock shaft 65 journaled in the base 64 and is provided with extensions 66 '(Fig. 8) carrying adjusting bolts 67 located in arcuate slots 68 formed in the base 64 so that the .carriage guide may be adjusted to any desired angleand secured in such position by tightening the bolts 67. A knife or cutting tool 69 adjustable lengthwise in a groove in the top of lthe carriage 61 is securely clamped to the carriage by means of a set screw 71 carried by an arched extension of the knife carriage. The carriage may be slid lengthwise of the guide 62 to project and retract the cutting tool by rocking the shaft 65 which is connected with the knife carriage through the intermediary ofa segment rack 72 fixed` vleathers and also the' mechanism emp oyed for automatically controlling the operation of said forming means so that they will be actuatedin proper sequence.

During operation of the machine, the spindie 54 is driven continuously by suitable means, such for instance as by an endless belt running from pulley 56 over idlers 74 and thence to thecone pulleys 75 fixed to a drive shaft 76 journaled in bearing brackets 77 which are attached to the fioor. Tight and loose pulleys 78 and 79 respectively, mounted on the shaft 76 afford a convenient driving means for said shaft.

In forming a. cup leather, a circular blank of leather of predetermined diameter, formed with a small aperture through its center and previously soaked in water or otherwise suitably tempered, is positioned flat on the face of the table 18 in the manner indicated at 81 in Fig. 6. Some leather does not require tempering by being soaked in water sinceit has been processed in the tannery and containsa suflicient quantity of parailin to make it thoroughly pliable without injury tothe fibers, this being especially the case where comparatively thin stock is employed, as when making small cup leathers. The table 18 is thenraised bythe operi ator depressing the foot lever 82 which sets in operation the mechanism for automatically actuating vthe cup-forming means, which mechanism will now be described. l

Referringto Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that a yoke-bracket 83 journaled at its ends on the drive shaft 76 is provided with a journal bearing 84 at right angles to said drive shaft in which bearing is journaled a shaft 85 having a variable speed driving connection with the shaft 76. This connection is shown as a friction disk drive comprising a disk 86 secured to one end of the shaft 85 and a pulley 87 suitably secured to the Vdrive shaft 'and shiftable axially thereon by any suitable means, so as to transmit drive to `the shaft 85 at'dierent speeds. A worm gear 88 fixed to the shaft 85 is adapted to `mesh with a worm wheel 89 secured to a cam shaft 91 journaled in a bearing bracket 92 which is attached to the rear side of the standard 14.

The worm gear may be moved into and out of engagement with the worin wheel by raising and lowering the outer end of the yoke 83 swung from its pivot on the shaft 76, and the Worm wheel is held normally out of engagement, as shown in Fig. 4, by means of a coiled spring 93 connected at one end to the standard 14 and at its opposite end to an arm 94 which is bolted to the outer end of the yoke journal 84. yConnection is established between the arm 94 and the foot lever 82 by means of a link 90, arm 95 and yrock shaft 96 journaled in the standard 14,

to which shaft the foot lever is fixedly secured. By depressing the foot lever, thearm 94 is swung downwardly against tne tension of spring 93 and the worm gear 88 is moved into driving engagement with the worm wheel 89, thus'establishing a drive between the drive shaft 76 and the cam shaft 91.

A number of cams, designated 'in general by reference characters 97, 98 and 99 shown respectively in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are ixedly secured to the cam shaft 9.1 and are each adapted for controlling certain functions of the cup-forming means. Cam 99 shown in Fig. 12 raises and lowers the table 18. This is done through the intermediary of a lever 101 pivoted intermediate its ends on the rock shaft 96 Aand equipped at one end with a cam follower or roller 102 engaging the face of cam 99 and shaped at its other end to form an abutment 103 upon which a foot 'lever 104 rests, this foot lever being formed 'this weight, a counter-balancing means is provided. This consists of a pair of weights 106 adjustably secured to one end of a lever 107 pivoted intermediate its ends at 108 to the standard 14. The central portion of the lever is forked so as to obtain pivotal support on both sides of the standard 14 and the front end is forked to provide attachment for -link connections 109 to both sides of the collar 1055 The weights 106 are arranged so that the weight of the table and its associated parts is greater than that of the weights so that the table will always assume the lowest position permitted by its controlling cam 99.v

The cam 98 controls the trimming device through the medium of a lever 111 pivoted intermediate its ends to a pivot bar 112 bolted to the rear side of the standard 14 and is equipped at its lower end with a roller engaging the face of the cam and connected at its upper end to the rock shaft 65 by means of an arm 110 and link 113, which are adjustably connected to the shaft 65 and lever 111, respectively. A spring 114 is employed for holding theroller or cam follower of lever 111 into engagement with the cam 98. The cam 97 for operating the band brake 42 is connected with the rock shaft 48 of the brake operated device by lever and link connections similar to those employed for operating the trimming device and consisting of lever 115, arm 116 and link 117.

yWhen the foot lever 82 has been depressed to commence the formation ,of a cup leather as was mentioned above, the cam shaft 91 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive,

' through the medium of the friction disk and worm gear drive connections also described above, it being apparent that the saidl cam shaft will be driven during only such ,period as the foot lever is held depressed.

and the table 18 raised in a slow and even" movement until the point B on the cam reaches the follower. During this raising movement of the table, the rotating head 53 will have engaged the leather blank positioned on the table, the centering point 58 entering the aperture in said blank. Upon the initial engagement of the head 53 with the blank, the latter will be spun or rotated with `the head and upon further raising the table the rest 39 will likewise be spun, as also will the members 27-32, as the blank is pressed into the bore 33, by reason of the frictional engagement between the blank and the forming members.

While the blank is being pressed into cup.`

shape, it is being continuously rotated, and the seat member 39, also rotating, is constantly urged against the face of the blank So as to hold it firmly against the face of the forming head 53 to insure against displacement of the blank. As the blank enters the bore 33, it at first engages the flared wall 34 thereof in an easy, gradual manner so that the peripheral portion of the leather which is made more flexible by being put in rapid motion and brought into an easy slipping engagement with the wall of the bore, is turned up by the gradual raising action of the table and thus formed into cup shape, as is shown in Fig. 7. By forming the cup in this -manner, the bers of the leather undergo no severe or sudden strains, such as might injure the fibers, but instead, the corner of the cup is formed under conditions and by means which work the fibers into the desired shape comparatively quickly and yet without unduly straining them. During the forming of the corner of the cup, the frictional engagement of the blank with the inner wall of the bore 33 increases as the table is raised and the blank moved into said bore so that a point is soon reached when the members 27-'32 will rotate with the blank and head 53. As previously mentioned, the table will be raised by the cam 99 until the point B onvthe cam reaches the follower which determines the depth of the cup and the extent of the projection `of the cup into the bore 33.

After the blank has been formed into cup shape, the edge of the cup fiange is trimmed or beveled by the trimming device, which is operated by the cam 98. During the cycle of the cam 99 from the points A to B, the cam 98 will have moved from A to B, which surface is at all points equidistant from the center of rotation of the cam so that its follower is inactive. It will also be noted that the face of the cam 99 from the point B to the point C is the arc of a circle that is concentric with the center of the cam, so that the table will be held stationary during this part of the cam shaft movement. Commencing at the point B', kthe face of the cam 98 contains a rise, which will actuate the lever 11 and project the cutting tool 69 into the bore 33 so as to trim the top edge of the cup at an angle such as is shown in Fig. 7. In order to effect a clean cut it is necessary for the point of the cutter to pass beyond the inner edge of the cup fiange and that this may be done the head is provided Awith the babbitt insert 59 above mentioned, of soft metal which does not blunt the point of the tool. We have found this form of insert very practical and servsary to provide a new insert.

iceable, but it will be apparent that after a certain amount of use the4 periphery of the insert becomes so grooved that it is neces- After trimming the edge of the cup flange, the cutting tool will be retracted by the fall in the cam 98, which terminates at the point C that is substantially co-incident in time with the` point C referred to on the cam 99.

Referring now to Fig. 10, it will be noted that up to this point in the formation of the cup leather the cam 97 which controls the band brake has been inactive. Immediately after the cutting tool has been retracted, the band brake 42 will be applied by the action of the raise in the cam 97 commencing at the point C, which point in the' cycle of the cam corresponds substantially to points C and C in cams 98 and 99 respectively. The effect of applying the brake is to arrest the rotation of the female forming member position while the forming member 32 is' stationary. The purpose' of this second movement of the cup leather into the bore of the forming member 32 is to smooth the trimmed edge of the cup fromV any rough ness that may result from thetrimming operation.

The effect of retarding and stopping the rotation of the forming member 32 is to also stop the rotation of the cup leather by reason of the difference of the frictional resistance between the outer and inner faces of the cup and their engaging members. .By reason of the high speed at which the head 53 is rotated, considerable friction will be generated causing the cup leather and especially the raised flange thereof to become heated, this having the effect of fixing or setting the bers 0f the leather. in the cup shape. This yoperation is of importance, since it will be remembered that the leather blank when introduced into the machine was tempered so as to be thoroughly pliable, and if the cups were discharged from the machine without undergoing this final setting or fixing action, the cup would not retain its shape, since the flanges would soon flare outwardly. Moreover, this final step trues the cup leather and in a general way gives the cup a final treatment that makes the cup a finished article. The final movement in the cycle of the cams 97 and 99 is to release the band brake and to lower the table. As the table is being lowered, the spring-pressed member 35 will force the cup leather out of the forming bore 33, thus automatically discharging the cup. If the foot lever 82 is still depressed by the opera.- tor, the machine will repeat the above described operations automatically and in the proper sequence for forming another cup leather.

When it is desired to form cup leathers of different diameters, the forming members or dies 53 and 32, the spring-pressed member 35 and the seat 39 may be removed and a new set of such members of the desired diameters placed in the machine. The forming members or dies illustrated in the drawing are for forming substantially a maxioperating the cup-forming means Without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Wel claim:

l. A machine for forming cup leathers, comprising, in combination, a table provided with cup-forming means, a rotary spindle disposed abovethe table and provided with means coperable with said means on the table for rotating a blank. and simultane'- relative axial movement of said die member and forming head, whereby to'press an" interposed blank into cup shape, means for trimming tie raised edge of the cup while the same 1s rotatedand held in the cup` forming means, and means for projecting the cup farther into said die member after said trimming action whereby to smooth the trimmed edge.

3. A machine for forming cup leathers, comprising a die member having a cylindrical bore and a bottom member positioned in said bore with its face normally substantially flush with the upper face of said die member and'movable axially into the bore against a spring pressure, a rotary spindle co-axial with said die member and equipped with a forminghead adapted to be projected into said bore, means for rotating the spindle, and means for effecting relative axialmovement of said forming head and said die member whereby said head will engage a leather blank positioned over the bore and, while rotating the blank through frictional engagement, press the same into the bore against resistance of the springpressed bottom member, thus forming the blank into cup shape. y

4. In an apparatus for forming cup leathers, the combination of' co-axially a'lined cup-forming dies constructed for shaping an interposed flat blank into cup shape by projection of one die into the other, meansfor rotating one of the dies and the blank While the blank is being pressed into cup shape, and means for effecting such relative rotation of said dies after the cup has been formed as to set or fix the 'fibers of the leather in the cup shape.

5. A machine for making cup shaped articles, lcomprising a table, a tubular die member rotatably mounted thereon and adapted to receive a cup blank over its bore,

a seat member normally disposed in the bore of said tubular member substantially Hush with the blank-receiving end thereof and movable axially into the bore against a spring resistance, a rotary forming head coaxial with the tubular member andof less diameter than the bore thereof, means for continuously rotating said head, means for effecting relative axial movement of said table and head so that the head will engage a blank positioned over the bore and press the blank into the same to thereby form the blank into cup shape, the said tubular member being rotatable with the head through frictional engagement with the interposed blank, and means for'retarding rotation of the tubular member after the cup is formed whereby to subject the cup to such frictional resistance as will x it in the cup shape.

(i. A machine for forming cup shaped articles comprising means for pressing a substantially fiat blank into rotating the blank on the Acup axis, said pressing means comprising forming members engaging the inner and outer sides of the raised marginal portions or walls of the cup and being independently rotatable, and

,means for effecting relative rotation of said forming members whereby t0 cause frictional engagement thereof with said marginal portion of the cup to thereby Fix the blank in the cup shape.

T. A machine for forming cup leathers, comprising a rotary spindle and a table coaxially disposed, said table being provided with a rotatable cup-former having a cylindrical bore, and said spindle being provided with a forming head adapted to enter the bore, a seat member positioned within the bore normally substantially flush with the mouth thereof and movable axially therein away from the mouth against a spring resistance, said cup-former being adapted to receive a leather blank centrally positioned over its bore, and means for effecting relative axial movement of said spindle and table so asv to project the rotating forming `head into said bore, whereby the blank,

while interposed between said head and the spring-pressed seat and being rotated by the head, will be pressed into the bore against the resistance of said seat member and thus formed into cup shape.

i 8. A machine for making cup shaped articles, comprising an upright standard, a vertical reciprocable support and a spindle coaxially disposed thereabove mounted on the standard, a table mounted on the upper end of the support and equipped with cup-forming means, a forming head carried on the spindle and adapted to coperate with said forming means to press and spina `flat blank into cup shape, a trimming device mounted on the table and provided with a cutting tool adapted to trim the circular Wall of a cup shape While cup contained in the forming means, means :tor rotating the spindle, and cam mechanism and connections therefrom to the table support and trimming device for raising the table whereby to move the `storming head into cooperation with the forming means of the table so as to form an interposed blank into cup shape and for actuating said cutting tool to trim the circular Wall of the article while the same is disposed in the forming means.

9. In a machine for making cup shaped articles, the combination of a die member having a circular bore, a rotary 'forming head adapted to enter said bore and having an annular insert of softer material than the head, means for effecting relative movement of the die member and head, whereby to press an interposed blank into cup shape, and a trimming device including a cutting tool projectable into said borefor trimming the circular wall of a cup disposed in the bore While the said forming head is also therein, the point of -the cutting tool being projectable beyond the inner face of said circular Wall of the cup and into the insert portion of the head whereby to effect clean cutting.

10. In apparatus for making cup shaped articles, the combination of cup-forming dies constructed for shaping an interposed substantially iat blank into cup shape by projection of one die-into the other, means for rotating both of the dies and the blank While the blank is being pressed into cup shape,

means for eiiecting relative rotation of the dies, trimming means, and automatic operating means to first operate the dies to form the blank into cup shape While being rotated, then to operate the trimming means to trim the edge of the cup flange and finally to operate the means for effecting relative rotation of the dies.. A

11. Apparatus for making -cup leathers comprising means for pressing a substantially flat blank of leather into cup shape and for rotating the blank on the cup aXls while the blank is being pressed into said cup shape.

12. Apparatus for making cup leathers comprising means for spinning and pressing a substantially flat blank of leather into cup shape, and means for causing the raised edge portion of the cup to be heated by frictional resistance induced from rotation of the spinning and pressing means employed in forming the cup. x

13. Apparatus for making cup leathers comprising means for pressing a substantially fiat blank of leather into cup shape and for rotating the blank on the cup axis While the blank is being pressed into said cup shape, and means for trimming the raised edge of thecup While the latter is being rotated by the forming means.

14. Apparatus for making cup leathers comprising means for presslng al substantially flatblank of leather into cup shape and for rotating the blank on the cup axis While the blank is being pressed to said cup shape, and meanslfor causing the raised edge portion of the cup to be subjected to frictional resistance While the cup is held in the cup-forming means whereby to set or fix the ibres of the leather in the cup shape.

RICHARD S. COLLINS. F. W. TROSTLE. 

